Gavin McKenna and James Hagens can be the number one bookings in the NHL for the next summers.
Gavin McKenna scored the opening goal of the match against Finland. PDO
One of the brightest stars of the Under-20 Ice Hockey World Championships, which started on Boxing Day, is the Canadian forward who turned 17 only a week ago Gavin McKenna.
McKenna was responsible for Canada’s opening goal against Finland on the night between Thursday and Friday. McKenna got free from the corner of the goal to flash the second attempt past the goalkeeper Petteri Rimpinen.
The goal ended up being the winning goal as Canada won the opening game in Ottawa 4–0.
– We were a really tight group. We blocked a lot of moves in the end with understrength. And (Carter) George is an incredible player in goal, McKenna summarized to TSN after the game.
McKenna, who plays as a center forward, estimates that her mother was the most excited about her first goal in the under-20 national team.
Despite his young age, McKenna scored 34 goals and 97 points in the WHL last season. This season, 60 points have been scored in 30 matches. Last spring, McKenna scored 10+10 in seven games at the World Championships for Canada’s under-18 national teams.
McKenna can only be booked at the summer 2026 booking event. He exceptionally got to play in the WHL with a special permit at the age of 14.
The young Leijons were also upset by one of the top bookings for next summer Matthew Schaeferwho assisted McKenna’s goal in the match and finished the final numbers in the empty Finnish ruck.
The USA prodigy humiliated Germany
James Hagens was chosen as the most valuable player of last spring’s under-18 World Cup. Tomi Natri / All Over Press
The United States, the second pre-favorite of the Youth World Cup, does not pale in terms of player material. USA downright humiliated Germany 10-4 in their opening game.
The expected top booking of next summer’s booking event, a striker James Hagens18, worked 2+2. Hagens has been averaging more than a point per game in NCAA college play this season. In last spring’s under-18 World Cup, he scored 22 points in seven games.
Only the defender Cole Hutson emboldened by even more points against Germany. Last summer’s second-round pick of the Washington Capitals scored six goals.
– Have you seen his score and dominance on the ice? He is a generational player. Really fun to play with him, Captain America Ryan Leonard said of Hagens on the NHL’s website.
On Friday at 10:30 p.m., the Young Lions will face Germany, which is disciplined by the United States. On Sunday, the USA will face off, and the games of the initial group will be concluded by the meeting with Latvia on New Year’s Eve.